Inclusion and Teaching in Chicago

I'm continuing with Julia's Rocking Co-Teaching Series . Click below to read more about the other models already discussed in this series! Team Teaching Parallel Instruction  Model: Station Teaching Definition: "Students are rotated between three or more stations, also known as centers, which are either manned by a teacher or assistant or are independent stations. Teachers repeat instruction to each group that comes through the station, though content or delivery can vary based on differentiated needs" ( Collaborative Teaching in Elementary Schools by Wendy W. Murawski ). What does it look like? Check out my example of math rotations here Check out how to organize stations for older kids right here    Students working in a small group throughout the classroom Three or more stations around the room Two or more teachers in charge of a small group This video shows how young students use station teaching in a room with many adults. This i...

I'm continuing with Julia's Rocking Co-Teaching Series . Click here to read more about team teaching. Okay, onto the next model! Model: Parallel Instruction Definition: "Teachers break the class into two heterogeneous groups and each instructs half of the class" ( Collaborative Teaching in Elementary Schools by Wendy W. Murawski ). What does it look like? Groups facing away from one another and teachers facing one another to limit distractions and noise Two teachers teach the same content in the same way OR  Two teachers teach the same content in a different way ( Collaborative Teaching in Elementary Schools by Wendy W. Murawski )  Notice how the two teachers are facing each other and the groups of students are facing away from one another. Both teachers are teaching the same content in the same way. Notice in this video the quick transition from full class to parallel instruction. The teachers are teaching the same content in a different ...

This year, many of the amazing teachers at my school have asked me how to best co-teach. The models are unfamiliar to many new co-teachers and they want to know how to most successfully use the two professionals that now share a room.  I have a complicated relationship with the co-teaching models. I feel that oftentimes the models are misunderstood. Let's break it down, eh? Myth: Team Teaching is the best co-teaching model. Truth: No one co-teaching model is better than the other. The goal of co-teaching is to provide access to the general education curriculum and appropriately challenge all students. The trick is to vary the model used and not get stuck with just one. The type of model used depends on many things including lesson type, classroom dynamics, space, and teacher preference. Myth: Co-teaching is only beneficial for students with disabilities. Truth: Co-teaching is beneficial for all. Research shows that students with and without disabilities benefi...